2005 Draft & Free Agency

[garyv]

2005 Draft will depend solely on what the Cowboys do during Free Agency. They need so many players that there is definitely no secret that they will be one of the most active teams during Free Agency. If you really look at the situation very closely, the Cowboys first 3 selections (2-1st Rounders and 1-2nd Rounder) must produce immediate impact players. In Free Agency they need to sign four or five Starters. The needs are tremendous:

1-QB (Free Agency or Trade)
1-WR (Free Agency and Draft)
1-OL (Free Agency or Draft)
1-DT (Free Agency or Draft)
2-LB (Free Agency or Draft)
2-CB (Free Agency or Draft)

Breaking it down: 1-QB to become the Starter
1-WR to add with Keyshawn, Glenn & Morgan
1-OL most likely enabling them to use Gurode as Backup
1-DT to play next to Glover and shut down the run
2-LB much needed especially if moving to 3-4 Defense
2-CB one play maker to start opposite Newman and
one backup

I see a need for eight new players, three from Draft & five in Free Agency.
Possibly 6 new Starters and 2 Backups.

[garyv]

DE is also needed to replace Wiley. So a Run Stuffing DT and a Pass Rusher in Wiley's spot are both Criticl needs.

[Eddie]

With Key, Glenn, and Morgan, I don't think we need to pick up a FA WR. But that shouldn't preclude us from taking a young WR in the draft.

We don't know what we have in a QB. Are there going to be an cap casualties? I don't think we're getting Hasselback or Brees. Either would be too pricie anyway.

I think we're fairly set on the OL ... Peterman will be back and Rogers will make a push for the starting RT position.

DE and DT are of immense importance. Perhaps we cover ourselves by both drafting AND taking a player in FA. Glover isn't getting any younger, so there's nothing wrong with having a young backup ready.

LB's are fairly cheap to come by. We can get quality and value players without paying out the nose. If James and Shanle aren't up to par, I think we're better off taking two young FA's with experience.

CB is touchy. With the new rules, there's no need to pay such a high price for CB's who aren't allowed to play their game. Better to spend the money on the front 7.

FB is also a position of need. Barnes just isn't cutting it.

[garyv]

Who could possibly be Cap Cuts at QB that could become our Starter ? Will Peterman and Rogers really be the answer on the Offensive Line or has Bill already determined they are nothing more than Backups? I agree a young WR in the Draft would be nice.

[Wood]

I agree with Eddie on this one. If we add a WR to this team - it needs to come from the draft. Terry Glenn will be 31 and Keyshawn Johnson will be 33 years old before next season. Someone on another board did some analysis and it is possible for Dallas to end up with the 3rd overall pick.

[Shotgun Dave]

Possible? Yes. Likely? No.

A poster on this board did a great job and figured Dallas at 6. That's what I figured roughly also. I think we have too many holes to fill to grab just one guy (as much as I'd love to have Mike Williams) if igiving him up meant getting, say, Antaj Hawthorne and David Baas instead. With the pick we get from Buffalo we could grab one of several highly rated DE's like Kiwanuka, Dan Cody, or Erasmus James. They can't ALL go before we pick at ~21.

With our second rounder we could take a LB like, hopefully, Barrett Ruud out of Nebraska.

After last week, I'm really looking harder at the available LB's this year. Also, I'm more leaning toward finding that FS stud to take over for Woody (hopefully in another year after learning the position better from him).

[Natedawg44]

I don't see any problem if we spend FA dollars on Jerry Porter. We do not have a number one WR right now we have a bunch of 2 and 3 guys. We got rid of the only one that could be a number one guy. Unless the WR we take in the draft is Braylon Edwards or Mike Williams that isn't going to happen by taking a flyer on a WR in a few years anyway. Do it now sign Jerry Porter and be done with it.

[Derinyar]

DT and DE are definately the need postions. An improvement there will make everything behind them look better. After that I'd probably say CB in the middle market range. As previously mentioned there is no reason to try and get two top tier CB's since the rules enforcment right now limits their play anyway. LB is a need, and I suspect we have two new starters next year with Coakley being a cap casualty.

[4lifecowboy]

Could we afford this?
Free agents:

DT: Ted Williams
CB: Gary Baxter
LB: E. Hartwell
FS: Marcus Coleman
OT: K. McKenzie

Draft:
Mike Williams (1st overall)
trade Buffalo's pick to Green Bay for their two second rounders, giving us 3 2nd round picks.
2a) Hoalti Ngata DT
2b) Canty DE/OLB
2c) Campell Auburn QB
4) RB Marion Barber III, or Kay Jay Harris, or Maruice Clarett
5-7th Place kicker, Offensive Line, Special Team

[pgreptom]

No more trading down - we need playmakers, not "build me into this" - we need guys who are ready to step in and contribute.

[4lifecowboy]

No more trading down - we need playmakers, not "build me into this" - we need guys who are ready to step in and contribute.

I think Ngata and Canty will make immediate impacts.

[Woods]

Could we afford this?
Free agents:

DT: Ted Williams
CB: Gary Baxter
LB: E. Hartwell
FS: Marcus Coleman
OT: K. McKenzie

Draft:
Mike Williams (1st overall)
trade Buffalo's pick to Green Bay for their two second rounders, giving us 3 2nd round picks.
2a) Hoalti Ngata DT
2b) Canty DE/OLB
2c) Campell Auburn QB
4) RB Marion Barber III, or Kay Jay Harris, or Maruice Clarett
5-7th Place kicker, Offensive Line, Special Team

Don't forget a veteran QB in FA as well. I'm assuming VT retires and BP wants to bring in some competition for Henson/Romo.

Personally, I'd rather sign a Guard vs. a Tackle. Worse case we can move Rogers back to LT and put Flo at RT if Rogers can't play RT next season.

[4lifecowboy]

Don't forget a veteran QB in FA as well. I'm assuming VT retires and BP wants to bring in some competition for Henson/Romo.

Personally, I'd rather sign a Guard vs. a Tackle. Worse case we can move Rogers back to LT and put Flo at RT if Rogers can't play RT next season.

I went the bring in another rookie Qb route, one of the three should pan out, but mainly because I believe that Henson is the Real Deal.
On the O-line situation I didn't really feel there were any impact free agent OG available, plus i think Tucker is playing out of position.

[DoomsDayD]

With this draft our first 2 picks should be on the defensive side of the ball. We have many a glaring weaknesses there and they SHOULD be addressed and i place the emphasis on SHOULD since knowing the boys lastest mishaps in the draft we just might grab a punter with the first pick.

[VACowboy]

Could we afford this?
Free agents:

DT: Ted Williams
CB: Gary Baxter
LB: E. Hartwell
FS: Marcus Coleman
OT: K. McKenzie

Draft:
Mike Williams (1st overall)
trade Buffalo's pick to Green Bay for their two second rounders, giving us 3 2nd round picks.
2a) Hoalti Ngata DT
2b) Canty DE/OLB
2c) Campell Auburn QB
4) RB Marion Barber III, or Kay Jay Harris, or Maruice Clarett
5-7th Place kicker, Offensive Line, Special Team



Canty is a 6'7", 290 lb. DE. He won't be playing LB.

FA:
John Abraham (DE)
Gary Baxter (CB)
Mike McMahon (QB)
Ryan Dien (RT)

Draft: (If we're trading down, we'll do it from 5 to 8-10)
1> Aaron Brooks (LB)
1> Anttaj Hawthorne (DT)
2> Vincent Jackson (WR)
3> Mitch Meeuwsen (FS)
4> Claud Terrel (OG)
5> Leroy Hill (S)

[Wood]

Gary Baxter and Edgerton Hartwell are two interesting Baltimore players that are FA after this season. Ozzie Newsome is on record as saying that signing Gary Baxter is a high priority. Baltimore just committed $55 million over 7 years, $17.5 million signing bonus for Chris McAlister. Ed Reed only has two years left on his contract (which pays him little over 1 million dollars a year if you can belive that). I still think Baltimore resigns Gary Baxter. Hartwell might be more of a realistic signing.

[tiller77]

I don't think it is as simple as letting rodgers play LT instead of RT. LT is the most high profile position on the line if he is not able to play RT there is no way he can play LT. Robert Gallery plays RT right now to get adjusted to the NFL Jonathan Ogden and L. Davis both played guard before playing LT in the NFL.

[The30YardSlant]

My wish list:
John Abraham
Will Demps
Fred Smoot
Joey Porter
Plaxico Burress

[VACowboy]

My wish list:
John Abraham
Will Demps
Fred Smoot
Joey Porter
Plaxico Burress

Demps is a RFA.

[garyv]

Yes, I agree with Abraham, Baxter, Dien and especially another option at QB.
Your Draft I might not totally agree with.....I like Rod Wright, DT from Texas,
Mike Williams, WR USC or Braylon Edwards, WR.

[garyv]

Fred Smoot and Abraham would really improve the Cowboys Defense. I tell you if the Cowboys could land those two and than draft two guys like Rod Wright, DT from Texas and Johnson, LB from Texas. Whooooooo the Defense could get really better in a hurry. The only thing to get both Wright and Johnson both picks would probably have to be in the top 10 and thats not going to be the case.